1961

Howick Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1961. Club activities were held at the Howick Domain with changing facilities within the “Green” curved corrugated iron building.Teams that were first entered were in the ARL Schoolboy Division. Some of these teams are shown in photos on this section with others displayed on the COMMUNITY - Previous Teams section. As the Club developed then Junior teams were formed.

1965

With the co-operation of the then Howick Borough Council in 1965 Paparoa Park was created from what was then a swamp area. Photos displayed show the expansive area prior to the building of the neighboring houses that surround Paparoa Park today. The Council created the two playing fields that the Club utilizes today together with the concrete block changing facilities which form the base of our existing clubrooms.

1971

Between 1965 and 1971 the Howick Hornets Rugby League Football Club completed the building of the top Lounge and Catering facilities over two stages. First part completed was half of the existing facilities with the remaining extension opened in 1971. Many fund raising events and contributions from numerous sponsors made this possible. The labour was provided by Club members who without their skill and time given to the Club we would not have the facilities we have today.

It was in the year 1964 that a Senior team was formed by a group of dedicated league players and supporters. This team was coached by Tom Baxter and captained by John Mitchell. Cliff Johnson who was the Chairman of the Club since it was first formed, played a major role within the team. The Howick Hornets fielded competitive Senior teams up to 1978 when a combined Howick and Pakuranga Clubs Senior and Reserve teams were entered in the ARL Senior 2nd Division Competition. The new name for these combined teams was Eastern United. The premier team coached by former Kiwi Rep Murray Eade and managed by Colin Sommerville finished third in their first year.In the following year the Premier team was undefeated with only there draws. This resulted in both Premiers and Reserves being promoted to the 1st Division for 1980. The joint Eastern Districts teams enjoyed their success over the following years with both teams winning their grades.

It was at the end of the 1985 season when both Clubs made a joint decision to have each Club revert back to fielding their own Senior and Reserve teams. During this period of time Softball was also a strong summer activity at Paparoa Park. The Clubrooms were utilised by the Softball Club over the summer months. As with all Clubs there have been changing times due to player strengths and the number of willing committee members. The current team numbers have been consistant over the past couple of years.

2011 season saw the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and spurred by pride in the heritage of the Club, the Premier team went on to take the Fox Memorial Shield Grand Final as 2011 Champions.

2019 Steered by an experienced group on the committee and backed by supporters in The Firm; 2019 was destined to become a pinnacle year in the Club's achievements. The Premiers won the pre-season Nines Competition, then went on to continually be within the Top Four in a revamped Fox Memorial Competition (in which the first half of the season was a promotion-relegation shoot-out), and were crowned winners of the Rukutai Shield as Minor Premiers at the end of the regular season (top of the Fox Memorial Championship Ladder). A long stint with the Roope Rooster Challenge trophy was ripped away by MT ALbert Lions in the final competition-round of the Season. With something then to prove Howick faced Mt Albert again in the Minor semi-final, but then lost to GLenora in the MAjor Semi (carrying through with the life to spare) to meet once more Mt Albert in the Grand Final, this game held at Mt Smart Stadium as curtain raiser to the Warriors. Down to extra time with points locked-up, a try on the wing gave Howick the win and Fox Memorial Championship. Other teams featuring into their respective Championships were the Under 14 and 16 Girls, and the Premiers Seconds. Crowned Best & Fairest Club by trhe Auckland Referee's Association, this was topped with Howick being named Auckland's Club of the Year.

2020 Looking forward to a season of continuing winning-ways, teams are being fielded across the Auckland Rugby League regional competitions (catering for both Open and Restricted Weights in Rugby League, and affiliations offering netball, tag and AFL teams and Lacross). We'd welcome your participation, as we complete what we started last season as the 2019 Fox Memorial Champions.